Here are 23 tips to help you take book discussions to the next level.
- Choose great books!
- Help students arrive prepared.
- Read and repeat.
- Solicit questions.
- Adopt an inquiry stance.
- Use the Shared Inquiry technique for your book discussions.
- Prepare an opening question.
- Follow up with another question.
How do you discuss a book?
How to Discuss a Book
- Toss one question at a time out to the group.
- Select a number of questions, write each on an index card, and pass them out.
- Use a prompt (prop) related to the story.
- Pick out a specific passage from the book—a description, an idea, a line of dialogue—and ask members to comment on it.
How do you introduce a book in class?
5 Strategies for Introducing New Read Alouds in the Classroom
- Look at the Book Cover or Title Illustration.
- Open to the Story and Read the Pictures.
- Discuss Possible Predictions and Make a List of Questions.
- Introduce New Vocabulary and Concepts.
- Relate Concepts to Students’ Background Knowledge and Personal Experiences.
How do you discuss a novel in class?
Seven Tips for Student-Driven Discussions of Novels
- Tip 1: Try waiting until students have finished the whole text to hold formal discussions.
- Tip 2: Try sitting in a circle.
- Tip 3: Don’t prepare questions!
- Tip 4: Look out for strong reactions and debates.
- Tip 5: Try these magic words.
How do you discuss reading in class?
Identify and list the important points from the reading and use these as a starting point for discussion. Use a partner activity. Ask students to come to the discussion with 3 or 4 questions prepared. Start the discussion by having students pair off and alternate asking and answering their questions.
What are good discussion questions for a book?
General Book Club Questions
- What is the significance of the title?
- Would you have given the book a different title?
- What were the main themes of the book?
- What did you think of the writing style and content structure of the book?
- How important was the time period or the setting to the story?
How do you lead a book study discussion?
7 Tips for Leading a Lively Book Discussion Group
- Find thought-provoking and engrossing books to discuss.
- Let your group members have a say in what they read.
- Be prepared.
- Be comfortable leading and listening.
- Be grateful for your group members.
- Be understanding and practical.
- Reward yourself for a job well done.
How do you introduce a book?
Introductions are built from these elements:
- Hook the reader.
- Tell a story about the reader’s current pain.
- Tell a story about the reader’s potential pleasure.
- Tell them what they’ll learn.
- Describe the author’s background/origin of book.
- Set up the book with a call to action.
How do you present a book?
Summarize the thesis or main idea(s) of the book in 2-4 sentences. Assess the author’s use of primary and/or secondary sources. Mention at least one memorable aspect of the book, so that at the end of class we will remember something distinctive about your book. Limit the presentation to less than 5 minutes.
What are some interesting ways to start a lesson?
They are a fun way to get students engaged and receptive to learning without sacrificing the need for a daily routine.
11 warm-up activities in the classroom
- Play Classcraft.
- Try popcorn reading.
- Have sharing time.
- Solve a brain teaser.
- Watch a video.
- Start a debate.
- Present a writing prompt.
How do you facilitate a book study?
How to Plan an AWESOME Book Study!
- STEP 1: Define Your Audience.
- STEP 2: Select Book Study Leaders.
- STEP 3: Define Your Goals.
- STEP 4: Choosing a Book for Your Book Study.
- STEP 5: Leaders Read the Book and Plan the Study.
- STEP 6: Decide How You Will Facilitate the Book Study.
- STEP 7: Facilitate with Finesse!
- STEP 8: FOLLOW UP.
How do you get students excited about reading?
Ten Ways to Get Students Excited About Books
- Read aloud. Reading aloud to your students (at any age) is the most important thing you can do to encourage students to read more.
- Display books.
- Status of the class.
- Book raffles.
- New book releases.
- First chapter Fridays.
- Keep the library fresh.
- Share your books.
How do you teach a whole class novel?
Five Steps to Revolutionize Whole-Class Novels
- Build a culture of independent reading.
- Select a developmentally meaningful novel.
- Let students read the entire book before pushing for analysis.
- Offer differentiated supports for students as they read.
What are discussion techniques?
These discussion strategies utilize tech tools that enhance learning and connectedness.
- Silent Discussions.
- Color-Coded Conversations.
- Human Bar Graphs.
- Collaborative Note Catchers.
- Virtual Questions.
- Google Form Groupings.
How do you teach students to discuss?
8 Tips for Speaking and Listening
- Model a Good Conversation.
- Encourage Physical Cues.
- Challenge Put-Downs or Hurtful Comments.
- Ask Open-Ended Questions.
- Put Thinking Ahead of Knowing.
- Have Informal Chats.
- Make Eye Contact.
- Encourage Turn-Taking.
What are the four types of discussion?
They deliberate, dialogue, declare, or debate.
How do you talk about a book in a book club?
General Book Club Discussion Questions
- What did you like best about this book?
- What did you like least about this book?
- What other books did this remind you of?
- Which characters in the book did you like best?
- Which characters did you like least?
- If you were making a movie of this book, who would you cast?
How do you lead a discussion on Zoom?
We recommend Zoom for book clubs, too! If you’re new to Zoom: You need a computer, smartphone or tablet with a camera. Begin by going to the Zoom website or downloading the app and registering your account. From there, once registered, click “Host a Meeting” and send out the invite URL to others to join.
What are discussion questions?
A discussion question that is truly great is challenging and inspires students to think critically and respond with well thought out answers. These questions are a framework for creating prompts that encourage inquiry, challenge students to think bigger and connect the classroom to real world ideas and events.
How do you start a book club discussion at work?
Select a regular meeting time. Read, meet, discuss. A suggested way to lead the discussion is to ask one employee a week to lead a discussion about the portion of the book that participants read. A second employee then leads the discussion about how the reading applies to your organization.
What do you do at a book club meeting?
Five Ways to Structure Your Book Club Discussion
- The best part of being in a book club is getting to discuss the books you read with fellow bookworms, but it’s not always easy to stay on track and keep focused on the book.
- Follow a discussion guide.
- Members ask the questions.
- Divide and conquer.
- Chapter-by-chapter.